Simon Fraser University squandered a 20-point lead before losing a heartbreaker 44-36 to the Azusa Pacific Cougars last Saturday night in Azusa, California.
“We made some adjustments and called some different things in the second half,” said Clan head coach Dave Johnson. “As coaches and personally, I did not handle playing with the lead very well. I felt the effort and execution our players gave was outstanding and we (coaches) did not do a good job playing with the lead.
“We let them back in, and the next thing you know, the wheels are turning and we couldn’t get them stopped in terms of [Azusa Pacific] running the ball.”
After seeing their lead slip away in the fourth quarter, the Clan battled back as running back Chris Tolbert (34-173-yards, 4 TD, 4 rec. 28 yards) scored his fourth touchdown of the night to give SFU the 30-27 lead midway through the fourth.
Azusa Pacific then drove down field after starting at their 27-yard line and kicker Jamie Cacciatore made a 45-yard field goal to tie the game at 30. Just three plays later, wide receiver Bobby Borcky (7 rec. 113 yards, 1 TD) got behind coverage and quarterback Ryan Stanford (22/44 250 yards, 1 TD, 1 Int) hit him in stride for the 51-yard touchdown. SFU couldn't convert the extra point, but still held a 36-30 lead with 5:24 remaining in the game.
SFU’s hopes were dashed on the Cougars’ first play following Borcky’s touchdown, when running back Terrell Watson went 68 yards for the touchdown, giving APU the lead back, 37-36.
With three minutes left in the game, Stanford had the offence driving down field, but a pass on fourth down was ruled incomplete as tight end Jamal Kett (5 rec. 57 yards) could not retain possession as he went out-of-bounds on a first-down attempt.
Two rushes and 69-yards later, Watson scored his fifth touchdown of the night to help push the score to 44-36 for the home team.
Down eight with just over two minutes remaining, the Clan started with good field position following a personal foul penalty against the Cougars placing the ball at the SFU 38-yard line. Stanford threw for two straight first downs which took the ball down to the APU 38-yard line.
On third-and-three, Stanford connected with wide receiver Tore Corrado for 26 yards down to the APU five yard line. But a holding penalty negated the play. Stanford’s final pass on fourth-and-13 was deflected and fell incomplete ending the game.
The loss was the third in a row for the Clan.
The Clan got off to a nice start as the defence forced a quick three-and-out which then saw the offence move the ball for a field goal thanks to Stanford spreading the ball around in his first game back from an injury he suffered two weeks ago.
“I felt Stanford’s velocity was outstanding coming off an injury and it was nice to see Robert Borcky step up and have a big game. A lot of guys did a lot of good things,” added Johnson.
Azusa Pacific tied the game at three, but Tolbert scored three straight touchdowns, giving SFU a 23-3 lead at the half.
The Cougars came out stronger in the second half, chipping away at the Clan’s lead until they finally led 27-23 early in the fourth quarter.
SFU returns home for just the second time this season as they host the Central Washington Wildcats Saturday at 2 p.m. at Terry Fox Field.
